Two Steps Behind

CHAPTER 14

Tall pine trees dancing together with the blowing wind joined with the pitter-patter rain as well as the birds finding their own nests. Wet silent road with minimal number of cars from the village going out to somewhere. And we, the two persons quietly taking our way in my house was all I could think about right now. 

Raven insisted not to go at home and asked to find somewhere else to study but I kept my decision fixed. It would be a waste of time finding such shops on rainy days and it's tiresome! Plus, I am not in the mood to go somewhere else during cold days. I prefer isolating myself at home and looking for my own comfort. 

"Martinez, we can seriously find a place nearby. We don't have to stay in your home," he complained once again. 

I stepped on the foot break and yanked on the gear then I looked at him with crossed arms. "I am your employer, Raven Ismael. I am paying you and you have to obey me," I replied. 

"And what harsh words would your parents say on bringing someone at home?" I hissed at him. "I am obeying my employer and I guess my employer should consider her employee also," he continued. 

"Stop being stupid, Raven Ismael. My parents were not around and don't worry, we would remain our professionality," I talked back then pressed my car honk. 

I started the engine again and didn't dare to listen to his blabber. We are now in front of our house, waiting for Lexie to open up the gate. A few moments after, it cracked wide open exposing Lexie with her pink umbrella and advanced night wear. I immediately drove the car in. 

"Good after—" Lexie's greetings was replaced by a puzzled and surprised look. "Noon, Blythe," she continued, scanning me up and down. 

"What happened to you?" she worriedly asked then shared her umbrella with me. I was about to open my mouth when Raven stepped out making her more confused and shocked. "Oh, you are with someone?" she stammered. 

"Please entertain our visitor. He is Raven, my tutor. I'll be back right away after I took my quick shower," I ordered, leaving Lexie dumbfounded amidst the falling rain with Raven. 

I immediately took off the white shirt which Raven handed me earlier when I reached my room. I went straight to the bathroom to have a quick warm shower. I scrunch my face in disgust as I saw my reflection on the mirror driving me to seriously take a bath. I looked so pale and boring with my pity pretty face. 

When I finished taking my shower, I decided to wear my usual night wear; pajama and loose shirt then tied my hair in a messy bun. Who would've cared about my looks at home either. It's my territory and they don't have the right to talk bad about me.

"Your quick shower was really quick," Raven welcomed me in the living room with his sarcastic tone. 

I plopped myself on the other side of the couch with a raised eyebrow. "What do you expect on a 'quick shower'? One minute or two? Is it even a shower?" I replied, grabbing a book on the center table. 

"Your quick shower was really quick enough for me to hear Lexie's whole life story and finish my assignments intended to be done at my home." I bit my finger nails as he specified the words "quick", "whole life story", and "my" in his sentences. 

"Sorry. That was really the fastest shower I have done," I mouthed guiltily. He hissed before raising a view at me. His eyes widened in surprise like he saw the most impossible thing he would witness. So, I threw him a throw pillow as a response. 

"Stop staring at me like that. I'm not a criminal nor an impossible person to live around you." He cleared a throat before pushing his notes on my direction. "Study that for a minute and tell me which part confused you," he said. 

As instructed, I studied the equations he had written in my notebook. It was a complex problem to look at first but easier when followed. I hope we could make and sign a petition about Mrs. Khant's expulsion or suspension and exchange Raven on her part. Surely, all of us in the class would be grateful as we will deduct a weight on our shoulders. 

"Numbers 3, 4 and 7 also 10 are wrong. Solve it again," he ordered, pushing the paper back at me. 

I groaned and tweaked my hair as I am feeling a mild headache. "Can I rest for a minute? My brain was drained already." I jutted my bottom lip down while looking at him with my puppy eyes. 

His dark brown eyes locked to mine, slowly drowning my inner soul. His pointed nose and well defined jaw which was a perfect match with his thin lips capture the entire me. As I kept, staring at him, his eyes grew darker and bigger. He might gonna allow me because I'm still the boss. 

"Stop that, Martinez. You can't quit that easy," he replied seriously then he took his focus back on his notes. 

"I'm not quitting. I'm just asking for a rest," I mumbled with crossed arms and legs. 

"You look exhausted, Blythe. You want chocolate? Dessert? Coffee?" Lexie spoke as she appeared on my sight. I was about to ask for a coffee but Raven answered him. 

"Don't bother to give her anything, Lexie if she won't finish her task." My eyes instantly widened. Wow! He was ordering MY housekeeper in MY OWN house?

I faced him angrily. "Who are you to order Lexie like that in my territory?" 

He stared at me blankly. "I'm your teacher and it's part of your training. You must finish and work hard for you to get your price." 

"No! That's—" Lexie cut me off. 

"I think Raven is right, Blythe. I'll just prepare your favorite dinner as your price instead," she said with a wink before she zoomed out. 

"Please do it faster, Martinez. I still have research to do and I need to find books. If you would also consider me as a student." I was stunned at his words. So now, he is explicitly saying that I am an inconsiderate kind of person and will point the blame on me if ever he would not pass? That was totally unfair! Because in the first place, it was her job to teach me! 

I was about to tell him my sentiments when I realised and remembered something. "What kind of book?" I asked. 

"Something about my subject," he deadpanned. 

I drew myself closer to him with a meaningful grin which made him confused. "If I could give you that book, would you allow me to at least rest for a while and extend our session?" I answered with a wiggled brow. 

His forehead was creased, lost in thought. He then scanned if I was being serious so I made a face which forced him to decide by shrugging his shoulders. 

"Come with me," I said happily as I grabbed his wrist and stood up. 

My dad had actually finished a degree in engineering before he dived into the world of business which was influenced by my late grandparents. Dad loves to collect books related to engineering and placed it in our home library though no one would read it since I'm not into engineering and math. While my mom, she loves to collect novels, story books, comics and everything from her favorite authors. She was a fangirl but hadn't finished reading all of her collections since she was busy with our businesses. Sometimes, an idea that I was just an adopted child came across in my mind because I inherit nothing of my Dad's intelligence and my mom's talent. If only I don't look like them, surely, I would take my idea seriously. 

"Welcome to my parent's library! Go on and find a book!" I cheered in spread arms the moment we arrived here. 

The library was actually as big as my room with the books arranged by colors. It doesn't matter what kind of book and size it has, as long as they have the same colors, they belong in one place which made it relaxing to see. On the corner, there's a couch and two single-seater sofas around the center table and at the other end was my dad's table with some of his things and a telephone. 

"Wow!" he said in amusement. "You have lots of books here. You can even use it to study on your own," he continued while searching for a specific book. 

"I can't do self study in math. It's too complicated," I replied while plopping myself on the seat. 

"These are amazing and expensive books! How come you have a library and you even didn't dare to study here?" he inquired, very much confused. 

"It was my dad and mom's collections," I answered and in an instant he stepped backwards, away from the books.